Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. David Cameron rejects claims that he has been too weak in his dealing with Lord Ashcroft David Cameron has rejected claims that he has mishandled the Lord Ashcroft tax row, saying he had clearly acted to settle the matter before the election.He told the BBC he did not "accept" criticism he was weak over the issue for fear of offending the Tory peer. Lord Ashcroft, a major party donor and deputy chairman, said last week he had not paid full UK tax on foreign income. The Tories said he would stand down from his party role after the election. Labour have urged him to be sacked now. Asked whether Lord Ashcroft would have a role to play in a future Conservative government should it win power, Mr Cameron said he believed the peer's interests lay primarily in "building up the Conservative party". It was thought that Lord Ashcroft had agreed in 2000 to pay full UK tax when he became a peer but it emerged recently that he had agreed to be a "long term resident", a lesser commitment which meant he was not liable for tax on any overseas earnings not brought back to the UK.[Read more...]